{{Short description|Mountain range in Canada}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Insular Mountains | other_name = {{langx|fr|Monts Insulaires}} | image = Ghinde2.jpg | image_caption = [[Golden Hinde (mountain)|Golden Hinde]], south aspect, August 2006. | country = [[Canada]] | region_type = Province | region = [[British Columbia]] | parent = [[Pacific Cordillera]] | range_coordinates = | area_km2 = 133879 | highest = [[Golden Hinde (mountain)|Golden Hinde]], [[Vancouver Island]] | elevation_m = 2196.818 | coordinates = {{coord|49|39|43.8|N|125|44|48.6|W|type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | map = British Columbia | map_caption = Insular Mountains }}
The '''Insular Mountains''' are a [[Mountain range|range of mountains]] in the [[Pacific Coast Ranges]] on the [[British Columbia Coast|Coast of British Columbia]], Canada, comprising the [[Vancouver Island Ranges]] and [[Queen Charlotte Mountains]]. The Insular Mountains are rugged, particularly on Vancouver Island where peaks in [[Strathcona Provincial Park]] rise to elevations of more than {{cvt|2000.|m}}. The highest of these mountains is [[Golden Hinde (mountain)|Golden Hinde]] on [[Vancouver Island]], which rises to {{convert|2196.818|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.
Although the [[Coast Mountains|Coast Mountain Range]] is usually referred to as the westernmost range of the [[Pacific Cordillera]] (since it is the westernmost range on the main landmass at that point), the Insular Mountains are the true westernmost range.<ref>[http://www.bivouac.com/ArxPg.asp?ArxId=1357 Coast Mountains] in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia. Retrieved 8 October 2007</ref>
==Geological history== These Insular Mountains are not yet fully emerged above [[sea level]], and [[Vancouver Island]] and the [[Haida Gwaii]] are just the higher elevations of the range, which was in fact fully exposed during the [[last glacial period]] (maximum ice extent about 18,000 years ago) when the [[continental shelf]] in this area was a broad [[coastal plain]].
The Insular Mountains formed when a chain of active [[volcanic island]]s (the [[Insular Islands]]) collided against the [[North America]]n continent during the mid [[Cretaceous]] period. The type of rocks that form the Insular Mountains are [[turbidite]]s and [[pillow lava]]s. [[Granite|Granitic]] [[pluton]]s seldom occur in the Insular Mountains, unlike the [[Coast Mountains]]. The Insular Mountain range covers some 133,879 km<sup>2</sup> (51,691 sq mi). It experiences frequent [[seismology|seismic activity]], with the [[Pacific Plate]] and the [[Juan de Fuca Plate]] being subducted into the Earth's [[mantle (geology)|mantle]]. Large [[earthquake]]s have led to collapsing mountains, [[landslide]]s and [[fissure]]s.
During the last glacial period, ice enclosed nearly all of these mountains. [[Glacier]]s that ran down to the [[Pacific Ocean]] sharpened the [[valley]] faces and [[erosion|eroded]] their bottoms. These valleys were transformed into [[fjord]]s when the ice melted and the [[sea level]] rose. Ice Age remnants may still be noted, such as the [[Comox Glacier]] in the [[Vancouver Island Ranges]].
==Sub-ranges==
===Haida Gwaii=== *[[Queen Charlotte Mountains]], on [[Haida Gwaii]]: #[[Cameron Range]]: On the western side of [[Graham Island]] #[[Crease Range]]: On north-central Graham Island #[[McKay Range]]: On the south coast of Graham Island #[[San Christoval Range]]: On the western side of [[Moresby Island]]
===Vancouver Island=== [[Image:VancouverIsland.A2003154.1930.250m cutcontr VIRanges800 wnumbers.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Named Ranges of Vancouver Island]] *[[Vancouver Island Ranges]], on [[Vancouver Island]]: #[[Refugium Range]]: On the Brooks Peninsula #[[Sophia Range]]: On Nootka Island, on the peninsula between Esperanza Inlet and Nuchatlitz Inlet #[[Genevieve Range]]: [[Nootka Island]] #[[Karmutzen Range]]: Between Nimpkish Lake, Tlakwa Creek and Karmuzten Creek #[[Hankin Range]]: Between Nimpkish Lake and Bonanza Lake #[[Franklin Range]]: Near [[Robson Bight]] on the [[Johnstone Strait]] between the Tsitika River and Kokish River #[[Bonanza Range]]: Between the Nimpkish River and the Tsitika River by Bonanza Lake #[[Sutton Range]]: Between Nimpkish River, White River, Oktwanch River, Gold River #[[Newcastle Range]]: Johnstone Strait, west of Sayward-Kelsey Bay and east/north of Adams River #[[Prince of Wales Range]]: East coast of Vancouver Island 40 km (25 mi) north of Campbell River #[[Halifax Range]]: Along Johnstone Strait between Amor de Cosmos Creek and Pye Creek #[[Beaufort Range]]: North of [[Port Alberni, British Columbia|Port Alberni]] and west of [[Qualicum Beach, British Columbia|Qualicum Beach]] #[[Pelham Range]]: Between the Sarita River and Alberni Inlet #[[Somerset Range]]: Between The Pacheena-Sarita River basins and the Klanawa River (between Nitinat Lake and Imperial Eagle Channel) #[[Seymour Range]]: Between the valley of Cowichan Lake, San Juan River and Gordon River #[[Gowlland Range]]: Near Victoria between [[Saanich Inlet]] and Brentwood Bay. Includes [[Mount Work Regional Park]] #[[Pierce Range]]: South of Gold River between the Jacklah River and the Burman River #[[Haihte Range]]: Between Tashsis River, the Nomash River, Zeballos Lake and Woss Lake
The [[Elk River Mountains]], located in [[Strathcona Provincial Park]], are sometimes classified as a range.<ref>Philips</ref>{{Incomplete short citation|date=November 2014}}
==See also== *[[Volcanism in Canada]] *[[Geology of the Pacific Northwest]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Insular Mountains| ]] [[Category:Pacific Coast Ranges]] [[Category:Mountain ranges of British Columbia]] [[Category:South Coast of British Columbia]] [[Category:Landforms of Vancouver Island]] [[Category:Landforms of Haida Gwaii]]